Cleveland Museum of Art

Plate 9: Asher

Jacob de Gheyn II

Date

c. 1589

Medium

engraving

Culture

Netherlands

Department

Prints

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

In this print, the biblical figure Asher holds a basket of potatoes and sheaf of wheat, denoting the rich soil and abundant food produced by his tribe. This is one of a series of prints depicting the twelve sons of Jacob, each with an attribute and costume that denotes his character. According to the Old Testament, Jacob blessed each of his twelve sons, prophesizing the destiny of their tribe, and assigning them a parcel of land in Canaan. The print series was made in the Netherlands in the late 16th century, a time of political struggle when Old Testament heroes were popular exemplars of fortitude and patience. The castle in the background of this image of Asher, son of Jacob, suggests that food he prepares will be served to kings, as prophesized by his father.

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